Camera

ABSTRACT

A camera comprising copy support means at one end for holding a copy to be photographed on a first vertical plane, a single elongated support rail extending normal to said first plane toward an opposite end of the camera, a film support means carried entirely by said single rail mounted for movement longitudinally thereon toward and away from said copy support means for holding the film on a second exposure plane parallel of said first copy plane, and lens support means carried entirely by said rail for movement longitudinally thereof between said copy support means and said film support means. Lens means is mounted on said lens support means for movement therewith in continuous coaxial alignment on a horizontal axis parallel of the rail and normal to said first and second planes, said single rail having a diamond-shaped cross section. Said lens means and film supporting means having gears and rollers for coacting with said rail. Also a stop means selectively presses against one of the edges of the rail.

United States Patent [191 Leonhart et al.

[ CAMERA [75] Inventors: Charles J. Leonhart, Carol Stream;

Edward W. Lewandowski, Chicago, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: The Nuarc Company, Chicago, Ill. [22] Filed: June 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 265,317

1 [52] US. Cl. 355/62, 355/63 [51] Int. Cl. G03b 27/56 [58] Field of Search 355/55, 61, 63, 62, 355/18 [551' niejr eil s ciied 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,408,247 9/1946 Weketnan 355/55 X 3,650,192 3/1969 'Kellner 355/55 3,531,197 9/1970 King 355/18 3,092,001 6/1963 Schlapp.. 355/61 X 2,113,309 4/1938 Murray... 355/61 X 2,551,181 5/1951 Sussin 355/61 3,618,502 11/1971 Congrove 355/61 X [111 3,765,761 Oct. 16, 1973 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-E. M. Bero Attorney-Richard D. Mason et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A camera comprising copy support means at one end for holding a copy to be photographed on a first vertical plane, a single elongated support rail extending normal to said first plane toward an opposite end of the camera, a film support means carried entirely by said single rail mounted for movement longitudinally thereon toward and away from said copy support means for holding the film on a second exposure plane parallel of said first copy plane, and lens support means carried entirely by said rail for movement longitudinally thereof between said copy support means and said film support means. Lens means is mounted on said lens support means for movement therewith in continuous coaxial alignment on a horizontal axis parallel of the rail and normal to said first and second planes, said single rail having a diamond-shaped cross section. Said lens means and film supporting means having gears and rollers for coacting with said rail. Also a stop means selectively presses against one of the edges of the rail. I

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 7s f t *2/60 fft K 68 m I 70 j mill 6 PATENTEDUBI 16 I973 SHEET 10F 2 illll m 6 w 4 8 m 2 8 7 II If m CAMERA The present invention relates to a new and improved camera and more particularly to a new and improved copy camera of the type used in commercial photography for copy photographing of materials placed on a planer copy board in order to provide enlarged or reduced photographic images of the same.

The present invention provides a number of new and improved features which makes it an extremely useful tool enabling a person skilled in the graphic arts to increase substantially the output and quality of workmanship.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved camera of the character described having a single, rigid but light weight, elongated horizontal support rail for supporting movable film support means and lens support means thereon for easy and Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved means of rapidly and accurately positioning movable support means for lens and film at positions along said support rail with a minimum of effort being required to obtain precise spacing and a minimum possibility of misalignment out of parallel with said copy support means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved support structure engagable and movable along a single support rail for holding film and lens in precisely'spaced apart, parallel relation with a relatively fixed copy support means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved copy camera of the character described having improved means for accurately and precisely spacing, positioning and securing a movable support structure in a desired position on an elongated horizontal support'rail. I Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide anew and improved copy camera of the character described providing an extremely high degree of stability and rigidity between lens support and film support means even though movable in a precisely controlled manner on a single, elongated supporting rail structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved camera of the character described having a new and improved film support means providingrapid and easy alignment and holding of the film in precisely parallel spaced apart relation with respect to a copy support plane. 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved copy camera of the character described having improved means for moving lens and film support means along a support rail and for locking and maintainingthese components in a precise position on said rail. V 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved camera of the character described which is neat in appearance, handy and reliable in use and which occupies a minimum of floor space yet provides a maximum utility graphic arts camera for the technician.

vThe camera of the present invention comprises an improvement on the horizontal camera shown in (1.8. Pat. No. 3,424,530 issued Jan. 29, 1969 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

Briefly, the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention are accomplished in a new and improved copy camera of the character described including copy support means at one end for holding copy material to be photographed in a first,

vvertical copy plane. The camera includes a single, elongated, relatively rigid horizontal support rail extending outwardly of and normal to said first copy plane toward the opposite end of the camera and movable film support means supported entirely on said single rail is mounted for movement longitudinally thereof toward and away from said copy support means. Said film support means provides means for holding and aligning film on a second plane always in precisely parallel relation with said first copy plane. Lens support means supported entirely on said elongated rail is mounted for movement thereon between said copy support means and said film support means for holding a lens in continuous coaxial alignment along a horizontal axis parallel of said rail and extending between and normal to said first and second planes. Said single elongated rail is-provided with a relatively'large transverse cross section having maximum dimensions on crossing or intersecting vertical and horizontal planes in order to provide maximum stability for said copy support means, said lens support means and said film support means whereby a continuous, precise, parallel spaced relation is maintained even though relative movement along said rail occurs.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new and improved camera constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a new and improved film support assembly of the camera;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the film support structure of FIG. 2 in another operative position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the camera and copy support assembly thereof in a horizontal position for placement of copy material thereon;

.FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view showing the single support rail of the camera and the movable supports thereon. for holding the film support and lens support assemblies;

FIG. 6 is a transverse, cross sectional view taken substantially along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal, cross sectional view' taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG-9 is a transverse, fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along lines 9-9 of FIG. 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, therein is illustrated a new and improved precision copy camera constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention and referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10. The camera 10 includes a table-like base 12 having leg structures 14 and 16 at opposite ends for carrying a horizontal table or base 18. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the table 18includes an elongated narrow portion extending toward the relatively adjacent leg structure 14 and an enlarged outwardly tapered portion adjacent to the leg portion 16. The narrow table portion provides for close and easy access to the components of the camera and at provided with a pair of adjustable, leveling feet for insuring that the table 18 is aligned truly on the horizontal.

In accordance with the present invention, the camera 10 includes an upstanding copy support assembly 22 adjacent the enlarged end of the table 18, a movable lens support asembly 24 and a movable film support assembly 26 adjacent the narrow end portion of the table. The lens support assembly and film support assembly are mounted for longitudinal translation toward and away from the upstanding copy board assembly which is fixed at one end of a single, elongated horizontal support rail 28. This rail is centered on and spaced above in parallel with the table 18 as best shown in FIG. 1. The support rail 28 extends outwardly and is normal to a vertical, copy plane at one end of the camera defined by the vertical copy holding surface of the copy board assembly 22. The lens support assembly 24 is movable toward and away from the stationary or relatively fixed copy board assembly 22 and the film support assembly 26 is also movable longitudinally on the support rail on the opposite side of the lens support. The horizontal, support rail 28 is spaced above the upper surface of the table base structure 18 and is supported at opposite ends .by an upstanding, I-I-shaped, support bracket 30 adjacent the enlarged end of the table 18, which bracket also carries and is part of the copy board assembly 22, and a control head supporting bracket 32 adjacent the narrow end of the table structure above the leg 14. Both the rail supports 30 and 32 have relatively large laterally outwardly extending foot or base portions which are firmly secured to the upper surface of the table structure 18 and both supports include precision, aligned openings of the proper shape in order to receive and support the outer end portions of the horizontal support rail 28.

, The H-shaped rail support bracket 30 ofthe copy board'assembly 22 includes a laterally extending horizontal portion 34 above the support rail 28, which forms a bight portion or base of a U-shaped bracket having upstanding legs 36. The copy board assembly 22 includes a rectangular copy board 38 having a peripheral frame formed of angles and mounted for pivotal movement about a laterally transverse axis adjacent the upper ends of the bracket legs 36 on pivot pins 42. The base 38 of the copy board assembly is pivotable between a vertically upright position ready for photographic use as shown in FIG. 1 and a horizontal loading position as shown in FIG. 4 for easier loading of the material which is to be photographically copied by the I copied by the camera. The planar face 44 is preferably formed of soft, felt-likecloth material or other types of cloth. In order to hold copy material placed on the board face 44 firmly in place without shifting at movement thereafter, especially when the copy board is pivoted into the upright position as shown in FIG. 1, a cover structure 46 is secured to pivot along one edge of the copy board base 38 as best shown in FIG. 4. The copy board cover includes a transparent sheet 48 of glass or plasticfor engaging the material and holding it firmly against the planar face 44 of the copy board. The board is biased outwardly against the cover 48 by a plu- .rality of springs (not shown) and the cover structure 46 includes a supporting rectangular frame 50. The frame is adapted to be held either in a closed or in an open position (shown in FIG. 4) with respect to the frame 40 by means of a pair of extension arms 52 which are adjustable in length and which are pivotally connected at opposite ends to side members of the respective frames 40 and 50. After copy material is loaded onto the planar surface 44 the copy board, the cover structure is closed so that the cover 48 presses and holds the copy material against the spring biased planar face 44 of the board.

In order to retain the copy board cover 46 in the I closed position, pairs of cooperating latch members 54 and 56 are mounted on the frames 40 and 50. After loading when the copy board cover 46 is closed to hold the copy material firmly in the selected position on the planar face 44 of the copy board, the whole copy board structure 38 is pivoted from the horizontal position (FIG. 4) to the vertical or upright position (FIG. 1) ready to be photographed. For the purpose of maintaining the copy board assembly 38 in a precise, upright vertical position exactly normal or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support rail 28, a pair of stop members 58 are provided on the support bracket structure 30 at the junction of the lower bight portion 34 and upright legs 36. The pivot pins 42 are off center with respect to the center of gravity of the copy board 38 so. that gravity causes the lower edge of the frame 40 to be biased against the stop members58 and the copy board is thus normally maintained in a precise, vertically aligned upright position on a vertical copy plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support rail 28.

In order to provide uniform and evenly distributed illumination of the material on the copy board. the camera includes a pair of light assemblies 60, each having a pair of quartz iodide lamps 62 therein positioned in suitable reflectors 64 (FIG.'4) for providing high intensity illumination of the material on the copy board surface 44. Each light assembly includes an upright I inner ends of the arms 70 are pivotally attached to the vertical portion of the H-shaped rail support bracket 30 by means of pivot pins 72 carried in vertical alignment between the opposite flanges of small, channel shaped brackets 74. Releasable latches 75 are mounted on the brackets 74 adjacent the pivot pins 72 (FIG. 1) for engaging the arms 70 to latch the arms in an outwardly extended position for exposure of the copy board 38 and an inward, storage position wherein the arms are parallel of the rail 28 and the lights 60 are out of the way.

At the opposite end of the support rail 28, the rail support bracket 32 provides an enclosure and support for a control head assembly 76 (FIG. 1), which assembly includes control switches 78 and a timer 80 for providing automatic or manual timed control of the light assemblies 60. Electric cables 82 supply power for the control head assembly 76 and extend down the hollow interior of the support rail 28. Suitable electric power cords also are carried on the arms 70 to provide controlled electric current for operation of the lamps 62 carried in the lamp assemblies 60.

In accordance with the present invention, the new and improved camera includes a single, elongated, horizontal hollow support rail 28 rather than the customary two or more spaced rails that are common in many of the prior art cameras of this type. The single unitary support rail 28 is relatively large in transverse cross section but is light in weight and provides excellent rigidity and strength for supporting the movable film support assembly 26 and the lens support assembly 24. The rail 28 is substantially a hollow square in transverse cross section as shown best in FIG. 6 and includes two pairs of transversely outwardly sloping planar surfaces 84 and 86 perpendicular to one another. Preferably, the rail 28 is formed of a hollow tubular aluminum extrusion and the resultant structure is rigid, strong and light in weight for the high section modulus that is provided. The upper pair of laterally outwardly and downwardly sloping planar surfaces 84 of the tubular extrusion are machined to be exactly perpendicular to one another as are the lower pair of upwardly and laterally outwardly sloping surfaces 86, which are perpendicular to each other and to the intersecting surfaces 84. Each of the sloping side walls of the tubular extrusion is formed with a machined longitudinally extending recess 92 on the outer surface thereof in order to reduce the overall weight of the rail 28 with little if any sacrifree in rigidity of the hollow structure. Right and left hand longitudinal edges or apexes 90 of the rail are machined and precision ground to provide smooth outer dent with a vertical plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the camera and longitudinally bisecting the support rail 28 along the upper and lower edges 94 and 96.

The inside surfaces of the front and rear housing halves 104 and 106 are formed with bearing bosses 108 surfaces and the upper and lower longitudinal edges or apexes of the rail are machined and precision ground with horizontal, narrow, upper and lower surfaces 94 and 96. As shown in FIG. 6, the rail 28 is aligned with its major horizontal and vertical transverse axes on precise horizontal and vertical planes extending normal to the vertical copy plane afforded by the planar face 44 of the copy board when in upright position. The hollow, box-like structure of the support rail thus provides for maximum rigidity in supporting the vertical lens and film support-assemblies, with a minimum of weight and also eliminates the requirement for a second, parallel supporting rail commonly found in prior art cameras.

Along the upper edge 94 of the support rail 28 there is provided a plurality of gear teeth 98 forming a rack for driving engagement with drive gear mechanism in the movable support carriage of the lens and film support assemblies 24 and 26. Preferably-the rack teeth 98 are cut and machined along the upper edge strip 94 of the support rail 28 as a final machining operation in the preparation of the support rail. In accordance with the present invention, the lens support assembly 24 and the film supportassembly 26 are mounted for movement on the elongated guide rail 28 by means of identical support carriages 100, which carriage allows the camera operator to precisely control and move the respective lens and film to any desired position on the support rail in order toenlarge or reduce the size of the copy material mounted on the copy board. Each of the carriages 100 includes a housing 102 formed in two parts comprising a front and rear concave wall section 104 and 106 joined along on a common center plane coincifor supporting the opposite ends of a pair of upper roller axles 110 (FIG. 7) on which are carried a pair of upper carriage rolls 112 adapted to ride on and engage the downwardly and outwardly sloping planar surfaces 84 of the elongated support rail 28 (FIG. 6). The upper carriage rolls 112 are spaced apart longitudinally of the rail 28 and are formed with a V-shaped groove in the circumferential periphery thereof. Opposite sides of the groove surfaces of the rolls engage respective oppositely sloping surfaces 84 on the rail 28 to guide the support carriages 20 in precise lateral and vertical alignment as they move back and forth longitudinally of the rail.

Other bosses 108 formed on the inside surfaces of the housing halves provide support for a single, lower roller axle 114 on which is mounted a single lower roller 116 also having a V-groove in the periphery thereof for running engagement with both of the opposite upwardly and outwardly sloping planar surfaces 86 on the lower portion of the elongated guide rail 28.

As viewed in FIG. 7 the weight of the lens support assembly 24 and film support assembly 26 is carried mainly by the pair of upper guide rolls I12 and the lower guide roll 116 serves to continuously engage the lower side of the elongated support rail 28 to provide precise longitudinal tracking and prevent tilting of the lens support or film support assemblies forwardly or rearwardly with respect to a transverse lateral direction. It should be noted as shown in FIG. 7 that the single lower guide roll 116 is spaced midway between the upper rolls 1l2'in a direction longitudinally with respect to the elongated support rail 28. This arrangement prevents lateral tilting of the support about a horizontal, laterally transverse axis during movement or precise alignment of the support carriages on the rail. 7

Viewing FIG. 6, opposite side surfaces of the V- shaped grooves in the periphery of the upper and lower rolls 112 and 116 are in continuous rolling engagement with the sloping planar surfaces 84 and 86 on the upper and lower halves of the single guide rail 28 and this engagement aligns and prevents tilting of the lens support and film support assemblies about an axis coextensive with or parallel of the guide rail during movement of the support carriages up and down the rail toward and away from the copy board assembly 22.

In order to further strengthen the support carriage housings 102 and to better interconnect and tit the front and rear housing halves 104 and 106- together, a pair of centering and alignment pins 118 extend between the halves on opposite sides of the lower roll 116 as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. In addition, set screws 120 are provided to lock the upper and lower axles and 114 in place longitudinally once precise adjustment has been'made to provide precise tracking of the support carriages 100 on the rail 28.

In accordance with the present invention, movement of the support'carriages along the rail 28 and consequently movement and control of the position of the lens support assembly and film support assembly 24 and '26, respectively, is accomplished and controlled by 7 supported in a pair of bosses 108 on the inside of the housing'members 104 and 106. Rotation of the gear ,122 and shaft 124 is accomplished by a control knob 126 keyed to the outer end of the shaft adjacent the outside of the front face of the control housing 100. v Manual rotation of the control knob 126 in both directions results in longitudinal translation of the respective support carriages 100 along the rail and precise parallel place on the rail while photographs are taken. Each support carriage 100 includesa locking or braking system comprising a brakepuck 128 having-a horizontally aligned V-groove formed on the inside face thereof for controlled frictional engagement against the side surfaces 84 and 86 of the support'rail 28 along the forwardly facing longitudinal edge of the rail asfshown in FIG. 6. The brake puck 128 is mounted on the inner end of a threaded axle 130 which is supported in an in-' ternally threaded boss 132 formed on the inside face of the front half 106 of the support carriage 100. A locking and controlknob 134 is provided on the outer end of the brakeaxle 132 in order to provide locking and holding pressure on the brake 128 against the intersect- 'ingiplanar surfaces 86 and 84 along the front edge of 'th'esupport rail 28. When the-knob 134 is tightened the brake puck 128 is forcedagainst the rail thereby-locking the carriage 100 in a selected position on the rail. Loosening of the knob releases the brake or lock so that the carriages 100 can be moved-by the movement control knob 126.

In order to precisely position the lens supportiand film support assemblies 24 and 26 on the elongated rail 28 in relation'to the relatively fixed copy'board support assembly 22, each of the support carriages 100 is provided with a magnifying lens 136 of the direct reading type having a vertical cross hair 138 therein. As best shown in FIG. 6, the recess 92 formed intheplanar surface 84 on the front side of the support rail 28 is provided with a plurality of elongated, graded measuring scales 140 which are appropriately marked to provide for precise spacing and alignment between the lens support assembly 24 and the film support assembly in relation to the copy board, support assembly 22. The magnifying lenses 136 are used to align the cross hairs 138 precisely with a desired graduation or distance mark on the appropriate scale 140 mounted on the support rail 28. Theprecise spacing distance as needed for a reduction or enlargement of the material being photographed on the copy board assembly 22 is easily set up by the direct reading magnifying-lenses system which provides for rapid and precise positioning of the respective support carriages 100 by means of the control knobs 126. Aftera position is selected andthe cross hair l38-centered on the selected scale marking, the position lock knob 134 is tightened to hold the respective carriage 100 in the selected position on therail ready for camera operation.

In accordance with the present invention, the lens support assembly 24 includes a rectangular, upright frame 142 attached to the upper surface of its support carriage 100 and the lens support frame provides a rigid structure for supporting a lens board 144 on which is mounted a photographic lens of the desired quality and characteristics including appropriate lens controls for controlling the amount of light admitted, the shutter speed and the like. The lens support frame 142 isconnected to the forward end of a light bellows 148 which extends rearwardly and is attached around the periphery of a rectangular frame 150 of the film support assembly 26. The frame 150 is formed of strong, light weight material and is attached to the upper surface of the film board carriage 100. The lens support frame 142 and the film support frame 150 are continuously maintained in precise parallel alignment with the copy board support frame 40 during movement of the respective carriage housings 100 along the rail 28 as before: described and accordingly precisely controlled photographic enlargements or reductions of the material on the copy board are possible with the camera 10. I

In accordance with the present invention the film support assembly 26 includes a planar film support platen 152 formed of transparent or semi-transparent material such as plastic or glass having a sand blasted or finely grounded roughened surface 152a on which a film sheet or unexposed negative is placed. Theplaten is marked with vertical and horizontal centerline marking's and a plurality of outer edge guideline markers which are utilized for precisely centering the .film sheets on the face 152a. Theplaten 152 is pivotal between a horizontal loading position as shown in H0. 3,

and a vertical position (FIG. 2) ready for exposure. The platen 152 is hingedlyattached along a lower edge to a vacuum back assembly l5 4which includes a peripheral frame 156 also pivotally attache'dto the "lower,

nected via a flexible hose 164 to a source of suction the fluid flow to provide a vacuum drawn substantially uniformly over the entire surface of the pIatenISZ so that excellent holding action is achieved for the film placed on the front face 152a of the platen. The platen 152 is formed with a plurality of very small perforations which permit air to be evacuated between the back side of a film sheet and the face 152a of the platen. After the film is accurately and precisely centered onthe platen 152, the vacuum pump is started and the vacuum back 154 is pivoted to the upright or closed position and the film is held in this vertical position by vacuum and the frame is held in the upright position by pairs of magnetic latch assemblies l76, positioned on the adjacent upper members of the respective frames 150 and 156. The control panel 76 is then activated to make the desired photograph on the film.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the camera 10 provides a very handy system for placing and precisely aligning the film in position on the film support platen 152. Focusing the lens is accomplished with the vacuum back open as in FIG. 3 with image projected on the ground glass surface 152a of the platen 152. Thereafter positioning the film and holding the same with vacuum pressure is accomplished and the film support 150 is then closed for taking the photo. Movement of the film support assembly 26 and the lens support assembly 24 is readily controlled by means of the control knobs 126 and locking of the assemblies in place after a precise position on the rail 28 has been selected is obtained with the brake or locking control knobs 134. Because of the narrow table base 18 and the single support rail 28 the camera 10 occupies little floor space and is extremely easy and handy to use. A skilled operator can make excellent copy at high rates with great precision and accuracy.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a single illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

I What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

a 1. Apparatus comprising copy support means at one end for holding copy to be photographed on a first vertical plane; a single, elongated, horizontal, support rail extending outwardly in one direction normal to said first plane; film support means carried entirely by said rail for movement longitudinally thereof toward and away from said copy support means for holding photographic film on a second plane parallel of said first plane; a lens assembly including lens support means carried entirely bysaid rail for movement longitudinally thereof between said copy support means and said film support means for supporting lens means in continuous coaxial alignment on a horizontal lens axis parallel of said rail and normal to said first and second planes, said rail comprising a hollow tubular structure with polygonal transverse cross section having maximum dimensions in vertical and horizontal planes and including a first pair of vertically spaced longitudinal outer edges and a second pair of horizontally spaced longitudinal outer edges, a first pair of planar rail faces sloping outwardly in transversely opposite directions from a first longitudinal edge of said first pair of edges, rack means along one of said first pair of longitudinal edges of said rail, at least one of said movable support means including gear means engaging said rack means for moving the same along said rail, a second pair of planar rail faces sloping outwardly in transversely opposite directions from a second longitudinal edge of said first pair, and at least one of said support means including a pair of guide rolls spaced longitudinally of said rail in rolling engagement with one of said pairs of planar rail faces and another guide roll in rolling engagement with the other of said pairs of planar rail faces spaced longitudinally between said rolls of said pair of guide rolls.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including an elongated graded scale on one of said planar faces of said rail for positioning at least one of said support means thereon and alignment means on said one support means for precisely aligning the same at a selected position relative to said scale.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said alignment means includes a hair line and a magnifying lens for viewing the gradations on said scale to precisely position said one support means on said rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rail comprises a hollow tubular extrusion of rectangular crosssection having diagonals aligned on horizontal and ver tical planes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower guide rolls are formed with a V-shaped groove in the circumference thereof, having surfaces on opposite sides of said groove engaging said planar faces of said rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one pair of said guide rolls is disposed longitudinally spaced on opposite sides of said gear means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including releasable clamping means on' one of said support means for engaging one of said longitudinal edges to firmly secure said one support means in a selected longitudinal position on said rail. 

1. Apparatus comprising copy support means at one end for holding copy to be photographed on a first vertical plane; a single, elongated, horizontal, support rail extending outwardly in one direction normal to said first plane; film support means carried entirely by said rail for movement longitudinally thereof toward and away from said copy support means for holding photographic film on a second plane parallel of said first plane; a lens assembly including lens support means carried entirely by said rail for movement longitudinally thereof between said copy support means and said film support means for supporting lens means in continuous coaxial alignment on a horizontal lens axis parallel of said rail and normal to said first and second planes, said rail comprising a hollow tubular structure with polygonal transverse cross section having maximum dimensions in vertical and horizontal planes and including a first pair of vertically spaced longitudinal outer edges and a second pair of horizontaLly spaced longitudinal outer edges, a first pair of planar rail faces sloping outwardly in transversely opposite directions from a first longitudinal edge of said first pair of edges, rack means along one of said first pair of longitudinal edges of said rail, at least one of said movable support means including gear means engaging said rack means for moving the same along said rail, a second pair of planar rail faces sloping outwardly in transversely opposite directions from a second longitudinal edge of said first pair, and at least one of said support means including a pair of guide rolls spaced longitudinally of said rail in rolling engagement with one of said pairs of planar rail faces and another guide roll in rolling engagement with the other of said pairs of planar rail faces spaced longitudinally between said rolls of said pair of guide rolls.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including an elongated graded scale on one of said planar faces of said rail for positioning at least one of said support means thereon and alignment means on said one support means for precisely aligning the same at a selected position relative to said scale.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said alignment means includes a hair line and a magnifying lens for viewing the gradations on said scale to precisely position said one support means on said rail.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rail comprises a hollow tubular extrusion of rectangular cross-section having diagonals aligned on horizontal and vertical planes.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower guide rolls are formed with a V-shaped groove in the circumference thereof, having surfaces on opposite sides of said groove engaging said planar faces of said rail.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one pair of said guide rolls is disposed longitudinally spaced on opposite sides of said gear means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 including releasable clamping means on one of said support means for engaging one of said longitudinal edges to firmly secure said one support means in a selected longitudinal position on said rail. 